$90 Million Renaissance Hotel Planned for EpicCentral in Grand Prairie: 225 Rooms, Convention Center & 500-Space Garage
A Major New Hotel Is Moving Forward at EpicCentral in Grand Prairie
EpicCentral's transformation isn't finished.
The Grand Prairie City Council approved a memorandum of understanding on September 1, 2026 involving Moon Brothers Management, Inc., also associated with Sam Moon Group, for development of a new full-service four-star hotel, convention center and parking garage at EpicCentral.
And this isn't being envisioned as another limited-service hotel.
During the City Council presentation, officials identified the planned property as the:
Renaissance Grand Prairie Hotel
under Marriott's Renaissance brand.
The approximately $90 million development is currently planned to include:
Approximately 225 hotel rooms
Full-service four-star accommodations
A large lobby bar
Full-service farm-to-table restaurant with Texas-inspired dining
Resort-style swimming pool
Pool bar and cabanas
15,000-square-foot convention center
Breakout meeting rooms
500-space parking garage
250 hotel parking spaces
250 public spaces for EpicCentral visitors
Construction is currently targeted for summer 2027, with an anticipated opening in summer 2029.
For Grand Prairie, the project would represent another significant step in turning the SH 161 corridor and EpicCentral into a true regional tourism and entertainment destination.
Is a Renaissance Hotel Really Coming to Grand Prairie?
The project is real, but there is an important distinction in its current development stage.
On September 1, City Council authorized the City Manager to execute an MOU and negotiate a ground lease and development agreement with Moon Brothers Management for the project.
So the project has received an important governmental approval and is actively moving through development.
However, an MOU is not the same thing as saying every final contract, construction document and development milestone has already been completed.
That is why the most accurate wording today is:
A Renaissance-branded four-star hotel is planned for EpicCentral and has taken a major step toward development.
The City itself announced the project publicly on September 2 as its first full-service luxury hotel.
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Where Will the New Renaissance Grand Prairie Hotel Be?
The development is planned for EpicCentral near Warrior Trail and Esplanade Drive, just off State Highway 161.
That places the property directly within Grand Prairie's rapidly developing EpicCentral entertainment district.
EpicCentral occupies approximately 172 acres along the SH 161 corridor, giving visitors easy access to attractions, restaurants, hotels, recreation and entertainment within one concentrated district.
The new hotel would join an area that already includes destinations such as:
Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark
Bolder Adventure Park
The Epic
PlayGrand Adventures
Chicken N Pickle
Illuvia
Grand Prairie Events & Convention Center
along with multiple restaurants, hotels and public gathering spaces.
Approximately 225 Rooms Are Planned
The Renaissance Grand Prairie is currently designed as an approximately 225-room hotel.
During the Council presentation, city staff explained that the project would represent Grand Prairie's first full-service four-star hotel.
That's significant because Grand Prairie already has lodging throughout the city, including two relatively new hotels directly inside EpicCentral.
What the Renaissance adds is a more upscale, full-service hospitality product aimed at both leisure visitors and the meetings/conventions market.
This is not simply about adding more beds.
It is about attracting a different category of visitor.
A Full-Service Texas-Inspired Restaurant Is Planned
The restaurant may be one of the project's most interesting amenities for local residents.
The development presentation described a full-service, farm-to-table restaurant offering Texas-inspired dining, adjacent to an oversized lobby bar.
That distinction matters.
This isn't being presented solely as a breakfast room or basic hotel restaurant available primarily to overnight guests.
City officials specifically discussed the restaurant as an amenity Grand Prairie residents could enjoy too.
If the final concept follows that vision, the Renaissance could add another destination-style dining option to EpicCentral.
The Resort-Style Pool Sounds Substantial
The hotel is also planned to include a large resort-style pool experience.
According to the City's announcement, the outdoor area is expected to include:
A full-service pool bar
Cabanas
Extensive landscaping and vegetation
and a resort-oriented design rather than a basic hotel swimming pool.
Guests entering the hotel lobby are expected to have views toward the pool area as part of the property's overall design.
Combined with the restaurant and lobby-bar concept, this suggests developers are positioning the property as somewhere visitors might spend significant time rather than simply use as a place to sleep.
A New 15,000-Square-Foot Convention Center Is Included
This may be the most important economic component of the project.
Plans call for a 15,000-square-foot convention center, including breakout spaces.
The City says the space is intended to help Grand Prairie attract more group business throughout the year, generating hotel stays, restaurant spending and additional tax revenue.
That gives the project two distinct economic engines:
Leisure tourism
and
Meetings and conventions.
A group attending a multi-day event may generate spending across hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues and other nearby businesses.
That's considerably different economically from a visitor coming to Grand Prairie for several hours and then driving home.
Yes, EpicCentral Is Getting More Parking
This could be one of the most immediately noticeable benefits for current EpicCentral visitors.
Plans call for a 500-space parking garage.
But only half would be reserved exclusively for hotel guests.
The planned allocation is:
250 spaces for hotel guests
250 spaces available to EpicCentral visitors.
That's important because EpicCentral has become increasingly busy as new restaurants, entertainment destinations, events and Illuvia attract visitors.
The parking structure therefore isn't simply supporting hotel operations.
Half of its planned capacity would directly increase parking available to the broader EpicCentral district.
How Much Will the EpicCentral Renaissance Hotel Cost?
The overall project budget is currently estimated at approximately:
$90 million
City officials disclosed that figure during the September 1 Council meeting, and Grand Prairie's subsequent announcement provided additional financing details.
According to the City, Sam Moon Group will fund the majority of the development.
The City's planned contribution totals approximately $30.5 million through incentives and debt obligations. The arrangement calls for SMG to repay those obligations over the life of the ground lease through rental payments.
Separately, the Grand Prairie TIF #1 Board considered up to $8 million in Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone funds for eligible project costs.
That makes the financing structure more nuanced than simply saying the City is writing a $30.5 million check to a hotel company.
Who Will Own the Hotel, Convention Center and Garage?
This is another unusually important detail.
Under the proposed structure:
Sam Moon Group would own the hotel.
The City of Grand Prairie would retain ownership of the land, convention center and parking garage.
The planned ground lease has a 50-year initial term, with an option for a 25-year extension.
That creates a public-private development structure in which the private developer operates and owns the hotel while public ownership is retained over several major components of the site.
Who Is Developing the Renaissance Grand Prairie Hotel?
The development partner is Moon Brothers Management, Inc./Sam Moon Group.
North Texans may immediately recognize the Sam Moon name from Sam Moon Trading Company, but the group's real-estate portfolio extends well beyond retail.
The company's recent hospitality projects include several major DFW hotels.
According to the City of Grand Prairie, Sam Moon Group participated in development of the Renaissance Dallas at Plano Legacy West, partnered on the Hyatt Regency Frisco at Stonebriar Centre, and more recently co-developed the JW Marriott Dallas Arts District.
That experience is particularly relevant because Grand Prairie's project combines hospitality, events, dining and public-private development.
The planned Renaissance in Grand Prairie would therefore not be Sam Moon Group's first major full-service hotel development in North Texas.
Why the Renaissance Brand Matters
Renaissance is part of the Marriott International portfolio and is positioned as an upscale full-service hotel brand.
Grand Prairie officials specifically identified the proposed property as a Marriott Renaissance during the City Council presentation.
That potentially brings the property into the broader Marriott ecosystem, including the company's large base of business and leisure travelers.
For Grand Prairie, securing an established upscale hotel flag could help increase the credibility of EpicCentral as a destination for conferences, corporate gatherings, weddings and visitors traveling from outside DFW.
When Will Construction Start?
Current target:
Summer 2027
The City and development team both publicly identified summer 2027 as the planned construction start.
That means there is still significant work ahead.
Final agreements must be negotiated, design and development work must continue, permitting and financing milestones must be reached, and the construction timeline itself can evolve.
For that reason, summer 2027 should be treated as the current target, not an unchangeable date.
When Will the Renaissance Grand Prairie Hotel Open?
The current target opening is:
Summer 2029
Again, that is the project's present development schedule rather than a guaranteed opening day.
Large hotel and convention projects can experience construction, permitting and supply-chain changes over a multi-year development period.
But if the current schedule holds, EpicCentral could welcome its first full-service four-star hotel approximately three years from now.
EpicCentral Already Has Two Hotels
An important distinction for anyone unfamiliar with the district:
The Renaissance would not be EpicCentral's first hotel.
EpicCentral currently has a Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites, both operated by Concord Hospitality.
Those properties developed from a major EpicCentral expansion announced in 2021.
The original project called for:
129-room Hilton Garden Inn
147-suite Homewood Suites
and an adjoining events/conference facility.
The hotels were subsequently completed and opened as EpicCentral continued developing.
What makes the proposed Renaissance different is its positioning.
The existing Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites are described during the September Council discussion as select-service hotels.
The Renaissance is intended to become Grand Prairie's first full-service four-star hotel.
EpicCentral Already Has a Convention Center Too
This is another distinction worth making because headlines could otherwise create confusion.
Grand Prairie already operates the Grand Prairie Events & Convention Center at EpicCentral.
The existing facility opened alongside the Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites development.
City information describes the current facility as approximately 13,000 square feet overall with 10,000 square feet of usable event space, including five meeting rooms, an executive boardroom and capacity for gatherings of up to approximately 1,000 guests.
The proposed Renaissance development would add a separate new 15,000-square-foot convention center.
So the announcement isn't replacing the current events center.
It is expanding EpicCentral's ability to host meetings and events.
The History of EpicCentral Helps Explain This Project
To understand why Grand Prairie is investing in another upscale hotel, you have to look at how dramatically EpicCentral has evolved.
EpicCentral is a 172-acre entertainment and recreation district along Highway 161 in Grand Prairie.
The area developed in phases.
Facilities such as The Epic, Epic Waters, PlayGrand Adventures, The Summit and surrounding recreation amenities established EpicCentral as a major community destination.
Then Grand Prairie began building something broader:
A tourism and entertainment district designed to attract visitors from throughout North Texas and beyond.
2021: The Major EpicCentral Expansion
In October 2021, Grand Prairie broke ground on a major EpicCentral expansion.
Plans included:
Two hotels
A conference center
Six restaurant spaces
A parking garage
Outdoor event space
A water and light show
Interactive entertainment experiences.
Chicken N Pickle was also developing nearby, while Bolder Adventure Park was under construction.
That expansion helped move EpicCentral beyond a recreation complex and toward becoming an entertainment district.
2022-2023: Restaurants and Illuvia Take Shape
By May 2022, construction was underway on new restaurants, hotels, event space and the water-show infrastructure.
The transformation accelerated in 2023.
Grand Prairie opened Illuvia, the multimedia water and light show that became one of EpicCentral's signature nighttime attractions.
City budget records list the opening of Illuvia and several new EpicCentral restaurants among Grand Prairie's major 2022–23 accomplishments.
2023-2024: Hotels and Convention Business Arrive
The Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites were completed, along with the Grand Prairie Events & Convention Center.
By April 2024, the City confirmed both EpicCentral hotels were operating.
That gave the district something it hadn't previously possessed at the same scale:
Visitors who could stay overnight directly inside EpicCentral.
Now the Renaissance project would push that strategy further into the upscale and full-service hotel market.
Why Grand Prairie Wants Visitors to Stay Overnight
This may be the biggest economic story behind the announcement.
Attractions bring people into Grand Prairie.
Hotels keep them there longer.
A visitor who comes for several hours may buy a meal or ticket and leave.
An overnight visitor may spend money on:
Hotel accommodations
Restaurants
Entertainment
Retail
Transportation
Events
and additional attractions.
The same is true for conference attendees.
If someone attends a two-day convention in Grand Prairie, their economic impact can extend across multiple local businesses.
Mayor Ron Jensen specifically described the new hotel as another reason for visitors to stay and experience more of Grand Prairie, while generating additional dollars for the local economy.
EpicCentral Is Becoming a Destination, Not Just an Attraction
That's the broader story.
EpicCentral started with major recreation amenities.
Then came restaurants.
Entertainment.
Hotels.
Illuvia.
Convention space.
And additional development throughout the surrounding SH 161 corridor.
The proposed Renaissance adds another layer:
upscale destination hospitality.
Instead of visitors necessarily staying in Dallas, Arlington or another surrounding community while experiencing Grand Prairie attractions, the city increasingly has the infrastructure to keep those visitors inside Grand Prairie.
That matters for tourism.
It matters for taxes.
And it matters for surrounding businesses.
The SH 161 Corridor Is Changing Rapidly
EpicCentral also doesn't exist in isolation.
Grand Prairie has been aggressively developing the broader State Highway 161 corridor.
The City has previously characterized that corridor as a major entertainment and retail growth area.
Nearby developments include destinations and businesses such as Andretti Indoor Karting & Games and Bass Pro Shops, while additional retail, dining and entertainment projects continue arriving throughout the area.
That means a future Renaissance guest wouldn't be limited to activities within the hotel's immediate footprint.
They would be staying inside a growing regional entertainment corridor positioned between Dallas and Fort Worth.
What Does This Mean for Grand Prairie Residents?
The development is being built around tourism, but locals may experience several direct benefits.
The most obvious is:
More parking
Approximately 250 spaces in the new 500-space garage are planned for public EpicCentral use.
Residents could also gain access to:
A new upscale restaurant
Lobby bar
Additional convention and event space
Potential employment opportunities
Additional visitor spending supporting the local economy
and another major hospitality destination inside Grand Prairie.
The resort pool is primarily a hotel amenity, but the restaurant and public-facing areas appear intended to appeal to locals as well.
Grand Prairie Renaissance Hotel: Everything Confirmed So Far
Here are the major details currently supported by official information:
Hotel: Renaissance Grand Prairie Hotel / Marriott Renaissance
Location: EpicCentral near Warrior Trail and Esplanade Drive off SH 161
Developer: Moon Brothers Management, Inc./Sam Moon Group
Estimated project cost: Approximately $90 million
Rooms: Approximately 225
Hotel positioning: Full-service, four-star/luxury
Restaurant: Full-service farm-to-table concept with Texas-inspired dining
Lobby: Oversized/full-service bar
Pool: Resort-style with bar, cabanas and landscaping
Convention center: Approximately 15,000 square feet
Parking garage: 500 spaces
Hotel parking: 250 spaces
EpicCentral public parking: 250 spaces
Ground lease: 50 years with potential 25-year extension
Hotel ownership: Sam Moon Group
Land/convention center/garage ownership: City of Grand Prairie
Construction target: Summer 2027
Opening target: Summer 2029.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marriott building a hotel in Grand Prairie?
A Marriott Renaissance-branded hotel is planned for EpicCentral. Grand Prairie officials publicly identified Renaissance as the brand during the September 1 City Council presentation.
Is the Renaissance Grand Prairie Hotel officially approved?
City Council approved an MOU and authorization to negotiate the project's ground lease and development agreement. That is a major step forward, but further agreements and development work remain before construction.
How many rooms will it have?
Approximately 225 rooms are currently planned.
Where will it be located?
Inside EpicCentral near Warrior Trail and Esplanade Drive, off SH 161 in Grand Prairie.
How big will the convention center be?
Approximately 15,000 square feet, with additional breakout spaces planned.
How much parking will it add?
A 500-space garage is planned, divided approximately evenly between hotel guests and public EpicCentral parking.
When will construction begin?
The current target is summer 2027.
When will the hotel open?
The current target is summer 2029.
How much will the project cost?
Approximately $90 million.
Does EpicCentral already have hotels?
Yes. Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites are already operating inside EpicCentral.
EpicCentral's Next Major Chapter
EpicCentral has changed dramatically in only a few years.
What began as a major recreation destination has evolved into a much larger combination of entertainment, dining, hospitality, events and tourism.
Now Grand Prairie wants to take another step.
An approximately $90 million Renaissance Grand Prairie Hotel, 225 rooms, resort amenities, a destination restaurant, another convention center and hundreds of additional parking spaces could significantly expand what EpicCentral can offer.
If the project stays on its current timeline, construction will begin in summer 2027 and the hotel will welcome its first guests in summer 2029.
Between now and then, there will be plenty to watch.
Final development agreements.
Design renderings.
Construction milestones.
Restaurant details.
Convention bookings.
And eventually, an opening date.
But the biggest takeaway from Grand Prairie's September announcement is already clear:
EpicCentral isn't finished growing.
And its next major addition is being designed to keep more visitors in Grand Prairie for longer than ever before.
This article reflects confirmed information available as of September 4, 2026. The project remains in the development and agreement-negotiation stage, so design details, construction schedules and opening timelines may evolve.
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